AN EVALUATION OF THE ABOMINATION OF ODALEBA DEATH AND BURIAL IN EZZA TRADITIONAL SOCIETY
The paper is on an evaluation of the abomination of Odaleba death and burial in Ezza traditional society. Odaleba is the most heinous deaths in Ezzaland. This kind of death occurs when someone unexpectedly slumps and dies inside a bush or by the side of the road without any sign of a physical assault. Victims are thought to have acted in a way that was not in harmony with the Earth goddess. This type of death is always buried in a very bare and shameful manner in the location where the person died. The deceased's spirit is excluded from the union of the ancestors and will never reincarnate since he was deprived of the customs of a proper funeral. Unfortunately slumping and dying in the bush or roadside can be attributed to some notable medical issues which include but are not limited to high blood pressure (HBP), low blood pressure (LBP), diabetics hunger, exhaustion and need to be thoroughly investigated. However, how to differentiate when someone slumps and dies as a result of abominations committed and medical reasons is the problem the study is set to solve. The ethnographic study adopted survey design method. Data were collected using observation and in-depth interviews with twelve (12) respondents purposively selected from six (6) communities of the two Local governments in Ezza, namely (Ikwuato, Amana and Amagu in Ezza South Local Government Area), (Oriuzor, Umuoghara and Umuezeokoha in Ezza North Local Government Area), who have baseline knowledge of the subject matter between the ages of 25 to 60 years and above. Among other things, the study found that Odaleba is a shameful death that is solely believed to befall evil people in Ezza traditional society. The paper concludes that Odaleba will be somewhat reduced if people can desist from abomination, as there will be complete harmony with the living and the Earth goddess. Therefore, in order to ensure proper ceremonial cleansing and make amends, the study recommends that people confess and atone for their abominable acts each time they are committed.
Keywords: Abomination, Burial, Death, Ezza People, Odaleba